Nora Owen
Question:42 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will give an update on the Middle East peace process following President Arafat's visit to Dublin. [11993/99]
Written Answers. - Middle East Peace Process.
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:89 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when the proposed Irish development aid office in Ramallagh will be established; the Government's policy on the establishment of an independent Palestine state; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12019/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 89 together.
President Arafat's visit to Dublin on 3 May was part of an extensive tour of capitals to inform governments of the latest position regarding the planned Palestinian unilateral declaration of statehood, which had been scheduled for 4 May, the deadline set under the Oslo Accords for the end of the transitional period. In his meeting with the Taoiseach, President Arafat said that the declaration made by the European Council in Berlin on 24-25 March had been an extremely important factor in the deliberations of the central council of the PLO which had resulted in a decision to defer the declaration.
At Berlin the European Council had reaffirmed the continuing and unqualified Palestinian right to self-determination including the option of a state and had looked forward to early fulfilment of this right – a right not subject to veto. The European Council, declaring its readiness to consider the recognition of a Palestinian state in due course, had also urged the parties to agree on an extension of the transitional period established by the Oslo Accords and stated that it should be possible to conclude negotiations within a target period of one year. The position of the Union is that the creation of a democratic, viable and peaceful sovereign Palestinian state on the basis of existing agreements and through negotiations would be the best guarantee of Israel's security and Israel's acceptance as an equal partner in the region.
President Arafat explained that the central council had postponed, until after the Israeli election on 17 May, the decision to declare Palestinian statehood. The Taoiseach congratulated President Arafat on this decision, which demonstrated a high degree of statesmanship and responsiveness to the wishes of the international community, and noted that it had been endorsed by other Palestinian elements such as Hamas.
Ireland's position on the establishment of a Palestinian state is fully reflected in the terms of the Berlin Declaration.
President Arafat also brought the Taoiseach up to date both on developments relating to certain Israeli practices in the occupied territories. He outlined the continuing restrictions by the Israelis on Palestinian economic activities in the occupied territories particularly those involving trade with the outside world, the steady expansion of illegal settlements in those territories and the introduction of restrictions on Orient House in East Jerusalem.
The Taoiseach expressed the hope that the peace process would be revived as quickly as possible after the formation of a new Israeli Government and reiterated that Ireland was fully supportive of the process.
The Taoiseach said that the question of strengthening official Irish-Palestinian relations would be sympathetically considered. In this context, as the Taoiseach has indicated in response to another question in the House earlier today, the Government has decided to establish a representative office in Ramallah. I am actively pur suing all the necessary arrangements to give effect to this.